Shuttle



Patented June 29, 1943 Claus A. Cosman,

to Wonder Weave,

Conn, a corporation New Bedford, Mass, assignor Incorporated, Bridgeport,

of Connecticut Original application June 5, 1940, Serial No.

338,847. 1941, Serial No. 5, 1939 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to weaving machines, and, more particularly, to improvements in the selvage thread supply and the manipulation thereof. y

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 338,847, filed June 5, 1940, now Patent No. 2,263,677, granted November 25, 1941.

According to the present invention, a novel shuttle construction is provided with electrically controlled operating means which act quickly to cause a thread carried thereby to pass through and interlock with the loop formed by the filling needle as it passes forwardly and backwardly through the shed to deposit a loop therein. In carrying out the present invention, the shuttle is constructed so as to have a flat upper and lower surface of substantial area connected together to form a rigid unit. The unit is provided with a lateral opening through which a bobbin carrying the selvage thread can be inserted and mounted on a shaft extending through the upper and lower surfaces and anchored therein.

With this construction, the bobbin can be readily inserted into the shuttle and will be securely held therein against flying of the same out of the shuttle during its operation, which may cause damage or breakage to the filling thread.

The shuttle, as is usual, is provided with tapered surfaces at each end to assist the filling strand in passing therearound.

As has been noted, in prior constructions the maximum speed of the machine has been more or less limited due to the means for operating the shuttle to cause the thread carried thereby to be interlocked with the filling thread. The present invention provides a novel actuating mechanism wh ch does not have any moving parts, as in prior constructions, so that it can be operated rapidly to cause the shuttle to be quickly shifted during the formation of the loop by the filling needle. As illustrated, this is accomplished by forming the shuttle of metal, or at least the upper and lower faces of metal, and providing elec-- tromagnets disposed above and below the shuttle. Upon proper energization, the magnets will draw the shuttle into engagement therewith, thus quickly raising or lowering the shuttle.

With this operating means, the shuttle will be shifted quickly without requiring an actual mechanical connection thereto, thus providing a clear path for the passage of the filling thread thereabout and avoiding the danger of catching Divided and this application July 8,

491,428. In Germany August the thread on projecting was heretofore present. 7

Suitable guide means are provided for engaging the shuttle to permit lateral shifting movement during its operation so as to maintain the shuttle in a predetermined position with respect tothefilling needle. h e

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing: 7

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view ofthe shuttle bob-bin.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the shuttle, taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1, with the shuttle disposed between the magnetic operator therefor.

According to the present invention, a novel shuttle 44, which is adapted to be positioned adiacent the side of a warp sheetin a weaving machine and supply the selvage thread, is constructed to receive a supply of selvage thread which is wound on a bobbin 43. Th bobbin is rotatably mounted in the shuttle 44 which is disposed at one side of the warp. The shuttle, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a'pair of fiat members 45, d6 of suitable magnetic material, rigidly secured together to form flat up er and lower surfaces of substantial area. These membersmay be formed as an integral unit Or ma be as sembled. Each end of the shuttle is tapered and rounded, as shown at 41 and 48 in Figs. 1 and 2, to enable the filling thread to be passed therearound.

The shuttle is provided with a chamber 49 opening to one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and through which thebobbin may be'inserted. A hollow shaft 59 is then passed through an opening 5| in the top of the shuttle, through the bore in the bobbin, and threaded into the bottom memberdii of the shuttle. The upper portion of the hollow shaft may have a squared recess parts and tearing as 52 to provide a means to be engaged by a suitable tool whereby the shaft can be securely locked in place against accidental and unauthorized removal.

With the bobbin thus positioned in the shuttle, all danger of its flying out of the shuttle during operation is eliminated.

As is shown inFig. 1, a coil spring 53 is disposed about an adjusting screw 54 and has its free end 55 extending into engagement with the thread Wound on the bobbin to provide a surface brake therefor to retard its unwinding op-,

eration and prevent its being drawn through the warp by thefilling as the needle, not shown, re

turns to its .nonr'ial position.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the side of the shuttle is provided with an aperture or guide 56 through which the selvage thread is fed. This aperture is normally positioned in the plane of the warp. If desired, a yarn brake 51 may be applied to the length of the strand extending between the bobbin and the aperture, to place additional tension on the strand.

The shuttle is adapted to be shifted by means of a pair of magnets 68, 62, having pole pieces GI and 620. provided with large flat surfaces facing the shuttle. The pole pieces are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the shuttle, as shown in Fig. 2, thus providing but a small air gap between the pole piece and the shuttle. When the electromagnets are alternately energized as described in my copending application, the pole pieces, which are of substantially large area, will quickly draw the cooperating flat surface of the shuttle into firm engagement therewith. This shifts the shuttle up and down with respect to the filling needle so that the filling thread can be easily passed about the shuttle without interference by mechanical operators.

' In order to maintain the shuttle in this predetermined position and prevent lateral displacement of the shuttle with respect to the electromagnets, guiding and holding means are provided.

In the illustrated form of the invention, this guiding and holding means comprises a pair of slidably mounted rods 80, 8|, disposed above the shuttle and a similar pair of rods 82, 83 located below the shuttle. The rods in each pair are rigidly secured together by means not shown and are adapted to be moved into engagement with the shuttle to insure that it maintains its predetermined position laterally of the electromagnets.

As is shown clearly in Fig. 2, rod 80, of the upper pairof rods, is slidably mounted in'a bore 88 in the magnet 62 and enters the hollow bobbin-supporting shaft when projected, while the other rod38] is disposed outwardly of the magnet and engages an aperture 81 formed in one endof the shuttle. Rod 82 of the lower pair of rods is slidably disposed in bore 88 of magnet 60 and enters the other end of the hollow shaft when projected, whilethe other rod 83 is disposed outwardly of the magnet in position to engage an aperture 89 in the shuttle. The position and number of rods used may vary as required to hold the shuttle in position.

The guide rods are projected at predetermined time intervals with the operation of the magnets by means not shown, but which is disclosed in my above copending application.

As is shown in Fig. 2, the bottom magnet 60 is energized and has drawn the shuttle so that the flat lower face thereof is in engagement with the pole piece El and the two guiding rods are in engaging relation with the shuttle and hold it securely in place. It will be seen from this figure that there is provided 'a clear and unobstructed path for movement of the stretch of the filling thread over the shuttle. After the stretch of filling thread has been passed over the shuttle, the guide rods 80, 8| are lowered so as to be in position to engage the aperture 81 and hollow shaft in the shuttle. During the time that the shuttle is being shifted from engagement with the lower magnet into engagement with the upper magnet by magnetic force, due to the energization of the upper magnet, the two sets of rods will engage and position the shuttle.

As soon as the bobbin has been raised, the lower rods, which remain in engagement with the shuttle until the latter has engaged the upper rods, are withdrawn through the action of the means for operating them and a clear path for the passage of the thread back under the shuttle will be present.

It will be seen that I have provided a novel shuttle of magnetic material which is so constructed as to provide a suitable magnetic path and cooperate with electromagnetic operators in the machine to shift the selvage thread with respect to the filling needle without the use of any direct connection or operator. Th structure of the shuttle, being very rigid, will securely hold the servage thread supply and withstand the shock incident to the rapid operations of the machine and thus enable the selvage thread to be inserted at a high rate of speed.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

. I claim:

v l. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine comprising an elongate body of magnetic material having flat pole-piece engaging surfaces at the top and bottom and extending for substantially the full area thereof and side walls connecting said top and bottom for the full periphery, said body having a pocket opening through one of said side walls to receive the thread supply; a bobbin carrying th thread supply insertable into the pocket through the opening; and means for locking the bobbin in the pocket.

2. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine comprising a flat body of magnetic material having upper and lower members extending for a substantial distance and side walls extending therebetween for the full periphery to connect said top and bottom, said body having a pocket therein opening to one side of the shuttle; a thread bobbin having a bore therethrough inserted in said pocket; and means for holding the bobbin in said pocket including a hollow shaft passing through one member and the bore of the bobbin threaded in one of said members.

3. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine comprising a flat body of magnetic material havin upper and lower members extending for a substantial distance and side walls extending therebetween for the full periphery to connect said top and bottom, said body having a pocket therein opening to one side of the shuttle; a thread supply on a bobbin insertable through said opening; means for holding the bobbin in said pocket; and yieldable means engaging the thread on the bobbin for retarding unwinding thereof.

4. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine comprising a flat bodyof magnetic material having upper and lower members extending for a substantial distance and side walls therearound connecting the top and bottom for the full periphery, said body having a pocket therein opening through one side wall of the shuttle and an aperture in another wall through which the thread passes; a bobbin carrying a thread supply insertable into the pocket through the opening; means for retarding unwinding of the thread from the bobbin; and means for engaging the thread extending from the bobbin to said aperture for applying a drag thereto.

5. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine comprising a fiat body having upper and lower metallic members extending for a substantial distance and side walls therearound, said body having a pocket therein opening through one side wall of the shuttle; a thread bobbin having a bore therein inserted in said pocket; and a hollow shaft passing through one member and the bore of the bobbin threaded in one of the other of said members for rotatably mounting said bobbin, said hollow shaft having a tool receiving means whereby it can be locked against accidental removal and serving as a guide means for the shuttle during use.

6. A selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine having shuttle guide means thereon comprising a flat body having upper and lower metallic members extending for a substantial distance and side walls extending therebetween, said body having a pocket therein opening to one side of the shuttle; a thread bobbin having a bore therethrough inserted in said pocket; and means for holding the bobbin in said pocket including a hollow shaft passing through one member and the bore of the bobbin and threaded in one of said members, said body having a pair of passages therethrough parallel to the hollow shaft to cooperate with the shuttle guide means.

7. A reciprocable selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine having pairs of shuttle guide pins therein comprising a body having upper and lower surfaces and a pocket therebetween to receive a thread supply; and a hollow shaft removably secured in said shuttle and passing through the thread supply to hold the same therein; said surfaces each having a, guide pin receiving means therein, the bore of the hollow shaft and said guide pin receiving means on one surface, on each shift of the shuttle, engaging a pair of guide pins to guide and hold the shuttle against lateral movement.

8. A reciprocable selvage thread shuttle for use in a weaving machine having pairs of shuttle guide pins therein comprising a body having upper and lower surfaces and side walls extending therebetween, said body having a pocket therein opening through the side wall to receive a thread supply; and a hollow shaft passing through said surfaces and the thread supply and removably secured in the shuttle, said surfaces each having a guide pin receiving means therein, the bore of the hollow shaft and said guide pin receiving means on one surface, one each shift of the shuttle, engaging a pair of guide pins to guide and hold the shuttle against lateral movement.

CLAUS A. COSMAN. 

